International applications

Graduate research

When you apply for graduate research degrees at Melbourne, you need to choose a research area, check you meet entry requirements, then apply directly with the University of Melbourne. If eligible, you’ll automatically be considered for a Graduate Research Scholarship. You may also be eligible for other scholarships and bursaries, which require an application.

To help you do this, follow our step-by-step guide below on how to apply for graduate research degrees.

How to apply

International graduate research applicants

Choose the graduate research degree you want to apply for. Options include:

Doctor of Philosophy – Up to 4 years in duration, you will undertake original research on a specialised topic and produce a thesis of approximately 80 000 words. Some of our PhDs include taught subjects in the first year.

Doctorate by Research – offering a coursework component in parallel with meetings with your research, giving high-level engagement with the key literature in your research area.

Master of Philosoph (MPhil) – an internationally recognised masters degree by research that requires the completion of a thesis of 30 000–40 000 words.

Masters by Research – different from the MPhil it offers a coursework component, along with a shorter thesis of about 30 000 words.

Eligibility

You need to meet minimum eligibility to apply for graduate research degrees. This includes degree requirements, English language requirements and meeting student visa conditions set by the Department of Home Affairs.

Fees

If eligible, you will automatically be considered for a Graduate Research Scholarship that provides a living allowance and/or tuition fee-remission scholarship. More than 300 of these scholarships are offered to international graduate researchers each year.

If you are unsuccessful for a tuition fee-remission scholarship, you'll enter as a full fee paying student.

Tuition fees are based on the degree you take and your subject load. You can find estimates of fees on every course page. You'll also need to factor in other costs while at university, such as for social events, travel and accommodation.

To find out how tuition fees are calculated and ways to pay, see Fees & payments

At minimum, you will need to provide academic transcripts and a CV with your application. If you're currently studying, you'll also need to provide a transcript of your final results and evidence of completion as soon as they’re available.

Depending on the course, you may also have to provide a research proposal, folio of creative works, GRE or GMAT test result or writing sample.

Academic transcripts

If you're currently studying, you'll also need to provide a transcript of your final results and evidence of completion as soon as they’re available. Some graduate schools will consider applications at any time, others only assess applications at fixed times of the year.

Check the graduate degree you're applying for to find out application due dates before submitting your application.

Referees

You will also need to provide the name and contact details of two referees. If it less than 5 years since you completed your last degree, they should be academic referees. If it is more than 5 years since you completed your last degree, they may be professional referees. Once you submit your application, your referees will be emailed a link to provide their reference online.

In the event your referee does not receive the email with the link, they may download the appropriate PDF form below and return it to the email address on the form. Please note that the online form is the preferred method for references to be provided, as it links the reference directly to your application.

It is important that you contact your referees well before submitting an application. This ensures they expect the request for a reference. Some graduate schools will consider applications at any time, others assess applications at fixed times of the year only.

Agreement for a jointly-awarded PhD degree form

If you're applying for a jointly-awarded PhD you will need to complete this form as well as the online application for courses.

Publications

If you want to include in your application details of publications of which you are the author or co-author, please follow the following formatting conventions.

Relevant publications include refereed journal articles, refereed conference papers, book chapters or books that have been published or are forthcoming. Please present publications in the format below:

Begin with the most recent publication first:

Journal articles: author(s), title of article, journal title and issue/number, year of publication, page references;

Book chapters: author(s), chapter title, book editors, title of book, page references, place of publication, publisher and year of publication;

Books: author(s), book title, place of publication, publisher and year of publication;

How to apply

If you're a new student, you can apply online. You'll need to provide a copy of your academic results as part of your application.

If you need help applying, you can find an overseas representative to help you with lodge an application, accept your offer and apply for a student visa (if admitted into the University). To find out about their costs and services, see Find an overseas representative.

Ensure you apply by the relevant deadline. Check the graduate degree you're applying for to find out application due dates before submitting your application.

You can track your application by logging back into your student account, or online account where you applied, and viewing the status of your application.

Don't have your results yet?

You can still apply if you haven't received your final results. You'll need to submit your most recent results on application, and your final results when you receive them to be admitted into a graduate research degree.

Assessment of your application will take approximately 8-12 weeks for most graduate research degrees, however, some graduate schools assess applications in rounds on particular dates. Check with the graduate faculty for more details.

If you are selected for admission, we'll email you directly with an offer.

If the offer is conditional, you need to meet the offer conditions before accepting it. If you've been sent an unconditional offer, you can choose to accept it immediately.

We have one of the most generous scholarship programs in Australia to help with your tuition and living costs.

If eligible, you will automatically be considered for a Graduate Research Scholarship. Other scholarships are available by application. These include:

Endeavour Scholarships – competitive, merit-based scholarships and fellowships offered by the Australian government, providing opportunities for Australians to undertake study, research or professional development overseas and for overseas citizens to do the same in Australia.

Travelling scholarships – for students undertaking research at an overseas institution, such as the Rae and Edith Bennett Travelling Scholarship.

Other grants and bursaries – some offered by faculties to reward you for academic achievement and to help with the general cost of living and tuition while studying at Melbourne.

To find out more about our graduate research scholarships and funding, see Research funding

If you're planning to move to Melbourne for your studies, there are a range of student accommodation options you can choose from including residential colleges, student apartments, share houses, homestay, hostels and temporary accommodation.